There is so much more to Lucerne than just covered bridges and lion sculptures. I mean, there’s a reason you see the same sightseeing spots in every single post (like this one), but we’re going to expand beyond just the main tourist attractions.
So whether you’re sticking to the city or planning day trips, we’re sharing the top highlights as well as off-the-beaten-path experiences you’ve probably never heard of before. After visiting countless times over the past 15 years, here’s OUR bucket list for Lucerne and Central Switzerland so you can finally create your own.
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The City of Lucerne, Switzerland
Let’s get started with a few bucket list experiences within the city of Lucerne.
1 | Walk across Lucerne’s covered wooden bridges
Chapel Bridge is the oldest and second-longest wooden bridge in Europe. But a lot of travelers overlook Spreuer Bridge, on the other end of town. When you’re on either bridge, don’t forget to look up and see the triangular paintings in the rafters about the history of the Swiss Confederation and the Dance of Death.
2 | Pop into Lucerne’s Churches
The Jesuit Church sits on the river between those two bridges and was the first baroque religious building in the country. And another church — the Hofkirche St. Leodegar — is particularly known for its organ that can mimic the sound of rain. And it just so happens to be near the next spot on this bucket list.
3 | Visit Lucerne’s most famous monument
More than 1.4 million people visit this Lion every year, which honors the Swiss Guards who died in 1792 protecting the King of France. Fun fact: this beautiful beast measures 10 meters wide (33 feet) by six meters high (20 feet), and provides a beautiful spot for quiet reflection — unless you’re here with hordes of other tourists!
4 | Enjoy Lucerne’s Painted Squares
But don’t forget to scope out some of Lucerne’s beautiful painted squares! Hirschenplatz might have the most detailed paintings, although Weinmarkt is the largest, Kornmarkt is the classiest, and you’re unlikely to forget the flames in Sternenplatz.
5 | Climb Lucerne’s City Walls and Towers
Lucerne’s city walls and towers are the best-preserved defensive structures in Switzerland. The Musegg Walls date back to the 1400s, while the towers are from the 1200s. And if you’re willing to climb the steep steps, we think Männliturm has the best views.
Here’s a funny story about this one. Jana came here as a teenager and wanted to take me up on the walls when we visited on our honeymoon…except she couldn’t remember how to get up there! We legitimately spent at least an hour trying to find the path.
But you don’t have to waste as much time as we did adding useless steps to your pedometer, since our 1-Day City Guide to Lucerne includes a digital map and detailed walking directions. And not just for the impressive walls and towers, but for everything that’s featured within this Guide.
6 | Drinks with a view at Hotel Château Gütsch
Pretty much every time we’re in town, we enjoy sunset drinks at Hotel Château Gütsch, a 19th century Belle Époque castle. And it’s super convenient to get here since the 90-second, self-driving funicular is free with the Lucerne Visitor Card.
Day Trips from Lucerne, Switzerland
Lucerne is our favorite Swiss city, but it’s also an incredible home base for adventures all over central Switzerland! We even created a guide with five options: 5 Day Trips from Lucerne.
And as a huge added bonus, literally every spot in this post can be reached for free with the Lucerne Travel Pass. You can learn more about that pass in this post. And if you find our info to be helpful, we’d be so grateful if you purchase your pass through our link. Thanks!
Mountain Adventures in Lucerne and Central Switzerland
7 | Slide down the Fräkmüntegg Summer Toboggan (Mountain Coaster)
One of the most adventurous things we did on our honeymoon was ride the longest summer toboggan run in Switzerland! You zoom down nearly a mile (0.8 miles / 1350 meters) around steep curves, over bumps, and through tunnels.
And funny enough, when we rode it again while we were filming our video at Mt. Pilatus, Brett forgot to turn on the GoPro so he had to ride a second time to capture it on camera. I’m sure that was an accident, haha!
Distance from Lucerne: 1 hour
8 | Hike the Stoos Ridge Trail (Alpine Ridge)
Without a doubt, the Stoos Ridge Trail might just be one of the most popular hikes in Switzerland. And you can probably tell why just looking at the unreal scenery of mountains and lakes. It’s not treacherous or even particularly difficult. I mean, it’s not a walk in the park but I hiked this at nearly 5 months pregnant and only struggled in the last 20 minutes where it was steeply uphill.
Distance from Lucerne: 1 hr 55 mins
9 | Soak in the Mineral Baths at Rigi Kaltbad (Thermal Spa)
I wish we had pictures of the Rigi Kaltbad Spa but there are no cameras allowed, which I actually appreciate. However, let me paint the scene for you.
I’m floating in an incredible indoor-outdoor mineral bath. In front of me I can see Lake Lucerne down below and endless peaks beyond. And I will never forget watching a storm coming in and dumping rain on the mountains in front of me — all while I floated in the warm water without a single rain drop falling on me. It was so surreal. Afterwards I enjoyed more of the indoor pools and relaxation areas for the rest of the evening.
And I forgot to mention that you actually get up here by a historic cogwheel train. And after, you can head down the mountain on a cable car that literally looks like it will drop you off in the middle of Lake Lucerne.
Distance from Lucerne: 1 hr 10 mins
10 | Cliff Walk & Snow Tubing at Mt. Titlis (Mountain Peak)
Okay, this is a 2-for-1 because we have 2 memorable activities from Mt. Titlis.
We’ve been on a lot of suspension bridges, but the one here is definitely one of the highest. And we were pretty surprised by how much it swayed back and forth!
But we also loved snow tubing. I mean, we’re from Tennessee so we’ve been tubing on a lake, but this was our first time on snow. And the best part is that this snow activity is included in your Ice Flyer chairlift ticket, which happens to be free with the Lucerne Travel Pass!
Distance from Lucerne: 1 hr 15 mins
11 | Walk around Lake Lungern (Stunning Lake)
My absolute favorite Swiss lake is Lake Lungern.
In 2022 we were driving back home from vacation in Italy when we passed this lake. We immediately pulled over at a lookout just to figure out what this place was. It was already evening but we decided to spend the next day in Lungern walking around the lake, hiking to waterfalls, eating near the water, and exploring the little village. And ever since, it’s been my favorite lake in Switzerland!
And if you happen to be riding the Luzern-Interlaken Express, this is a great stop along the way!
Distance from Lucerne: 45 mins
12 | Conquer the Grosser Mythen (Mountain Hike)
To be totally transparent, I hiked this alone because Jana was 4.5 months pregnant and didn’t have the energy. But this is a fair warning that the Grosser Mythen should only be considered by very experienced hikers! It’s short, incredibly rocky, steep, and has fixed chains and fences during the hiking season.
Okay, warnings aside, check out the views from the top! After I captured a million pictures and videos, I sat down to have a snack with my eyes glued to the horizon. And when I was about to hike back down, a group of 4 old grandpas were finishing their climb to the top. Talk about inspiring!
Distance from Lucerne: 1 hr 25 mins
13 | Discover Engstlensee (Alpine Lake)
Imagine riding a chairlift down from a mountain and seeing this below you. That’s Engstlensee, one of my top-3 favorite lakes in Switzerland. It’s 3 kilometers long and 600 meters wide, yet you’ll rarely see it overflowing with people. And every time I see it, it’s more and more captivating!
Our first glimpse of this was while we were hiking the 4 Lakes Trail between Engelberg and Melchsee-Frutt, so I knew we were going to see lakes. But I just wasn’t prepared to be blown away by the beauty!
Distance from Lucerne: 1 hr 40 mins
14 | Views from the Rigi Rotstock (Lake Views)
On our first visit to Mt. Rigi, we enjoyed sprawling views and hiked some of the trails. But it wasn’t until our second visit, while we were walking through a field of wildflowers to the music of cowbells, that we came to this viewpoint.
I think we were both a bit speechless at first. And hands down, Rigi Rotstock has our favorite view anywhere on Mt. Rigi!
Distance from Lucerne: 1 hr 15 mins – 1hr 35 mins
15 | Relax at Trübsee and the Stäubi Waterfall (Waterfall)
If you’re going to Mt. Titlis, you absolutely need to stop at Trübsee! It’s literally on the cable car line and included in your ticket, so it’s a no-brainer. Plus, look at how awesome this lake is.
You can relax near the water, eat at a few different restaurants, rent a boat, or let your kids play on the epic playground. There are also some neat adventure activities like a zipline, which is buy-one-get-one-free with the Swiss Coupon Pass.
We did almost all of the above and it was so fun. But what I remember the most is the Stäubi Waterfall.
You’ll walk along a little stream to escape the crowds, then slowly climb beside a gushing waterfall. On my first visit, I sat on a bench here all by myself and enjoyed a piece of cake I bought from a bakery in Engelberg. It was so relaxing to sit in the sun, hear the water rushing, and literally have the place to myself.
Distance from Lucerne: 1 hr 5 mins
A Swiss Travel Guide = Your Switzerland Itinerary
If you’re enjoying this Bucket List of ideas but don’t want to spend dozens of hours piecing together your own itinerary, then our Lucerne Day Trips Guide is the best resource for you.
It includes 5 daily itineraries featuring a ton of these places with transportation instructions, how to buy tickets, where to eat, the best spots for photos, gorgeous walks, and a whole lot more.
As in 150 pages loaded with everything you need to know about traveling in Central Switzerland.
Swiss Transportation in Lucerne and Central Switzerland
16 | Splurge on the Legends of Lake Lucerne Cruise (Luxury Boat)
Hop on board the fastest lake steamboat in Europe straight from the Lucerne boat dock. It’s been using steam to turn those paddles since 1913 and has traveled far enough to circumnavigate the globe more than 32 times.
The classy and luxurious Legends of Lake Lucerne is a 4-hour ride with a 5-course meal and wine pairings. Throughout your journey, a host shares stories about the history of the lake from railway pioneers and steam engines to Mark Twain, William Tell, and even Queen Victoria.
This is definitely one of those splurge-worthy experiences. So if you’re coming to Switzerland for your honeymoon like we did, or to celebrate a graduation or retirement or birthday, this experience is worth booking. And you get a 10% discount with the code APLINS10.
17 | Ride the Cogwheel train to Mt. Pilatus (Cogwheel Train)
Ride the steepest cogwheel train in the world to Mt. Pilatus. The cabins are staggered so you can always stand upright as you chug uphill at a 48% gradient. The very first train opened here in 1889, and today it still follows the same scenic route above the lake and into the rocks where supposedly dragons once lived. If possible, sit on either end of the train for the best views.
We first came up here on our honeymoon and were completely in the clouds. But on our second visit the skies were so clear. There are multiple walks and viewpoints at the top so you definitely want to check the webcams and come up here on a nice day.
Distance from Lucerne: 1 hr 10 mins
18 | Ride on top of the Stanserhorn Cable Car (Rooftop Ride)
The views are almost always good from a cable car. But they’re even better from the roof of the cable car.
The Stanserhorn Cabrio cable car was the first double-decker aerial cableway in the world when it opened in 2012. There’s no additional charge to ride on top but it is first-come-first-serve. The views are stunning as you’re looking down on Lake Lucerne below and Mt. Pilatus to the side.
Fun fact, you have to ride a funicular first to reach this cable car. And that funicular was the first electricity-powered funicular and the steepest in the world when it was built in 1893.
And, this ride is buy-one-get-one-free with the Swiss Coupon Pass.
Distance from Lucerne: 45 mins
Save Money with the Swiss Coupon Pass
By the way, we’ve mentioned the Swiss Coupon Pass a couple times now. Switzerland can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be, and the Swiss Coupon Pass can save you hundreds of Swiss Francs.
It’s a buy-one-get-one-free coupon book for more than 100 tourist attractions throughout the country. Before we wrote this post, I counted that we have been to 33 of those places so far. Just think of how much money we’ve saved! And to help you save even more money, you can get a 20% discount on your Swiss Coupon Pass using the code AFFAPLINSINTHEALPS.
19 | Ride the Gotthard Panorama Express (Scenic Boat & Train)
There are 8 scenic routes included in the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland. We’ve been on nearly all of them, and there are 3 things that make the Gotthard Panorama Express stand out from the rest.
- First, the separate photo coach. This was such a cool feature to literally open the windows and look out at the amazing scenery.
- Second, the incredible train loops that give you 3 different views of the Wassen Church.
- And third, the travel guide. We had the nicest man who told us when to look out the window for the next sights, interesting history about the journey, and just answered our questions in general. We could tell he was so passionate about the Gotthard Panorama. So if you’re watching this, sir, thank you! You made such a difference and I hope we ride again to thank you in person one day.
And if you happen to be traveling between Switzerland and Italy, this is a great way to connect the two. The ride is 1 hour and 50 minutes.
20 | Hop on the Hammetschwand Lift (Highest Elevator)
We felt like wannabe aristocrats when we wandered around the Bürgenstock Resort. Why? Because countless famous people have stayed here. From actors like Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn to world leaders like Queens and Presidents.
And a lot of them walked the easy Felsenweg path to the highest outdoor elevator in Europe. The Hammetschwand Lift is a glass elevator above Lake Lucerne that skyrockets up 152 meters / 500 feet in 3.15 meters per second to a panoramic viewpoint and restaurant at the top.
Distance from Lucerne: 45 mins
21 | Ride 5 different forms of Swiss transport on the Klewenalp Goldi Safari (Transportation Safari)
When you hear about safaris, you probably think about Africa — not Switzerland. But, in fact, you can take a transportation safari! So Swiss, right?!
- First ride a cable car from Beckenried to Klewenalp — where 1006 alphorn players met to score the Guinness World Record for the largest alphorn ensemble in the world!
- Next, hike to Stöckalp, which has a panoramic restaurant and pretty epic playground.
- Now, ride a gondola down to Emmetten.
- Then a Postbus to Seelisberg.
- Next is a really neat funicular ride down to Treib.
- And finally, end the Klewenalp Goldi transportation safari with a boat ride back to Beckenried where you started.
Distance from Lucerne: 1 hr
22 | Enjoy the Luzern-Interlaken Express (Scenic Train)
The Luzern-Interlaken Express is one of the most convenient and affordable scenic train rides in Switzerland. And honestly, it’s the one we most often recommend because it connects the top 2 destinations we suggest for first-time travelers to Switzerland.
Since we live near Interlaken, we’ve been on this train more than a dozen times. And they kinda blur together so we can’t remember our very first trip. We both love to look out the window when we pass by Lake Lungern, and it’s fun to spy waterfalls near Meiringen too!
There’s a lot to say about this beautiful route, so if you’re curious, you can read our post about the entire journey and the various stops along the way. The ride is 1 hour and 50 minutes.
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Swiss Food Bucket List
23 | Enjoy a Chocolate Tour and Tasting at Aeschbach
The Aeschbach Chocolate World Museum is one of the best chocolate museums we’ve been to, with a self-guided tour of the history of chocolate, a peek into their production, an interactive station to customize your own chocolate bar, and lots and lots and lots of samples.
And even though we were full of chocolate, we left the museum, grabbed some food from their bistro, and relaxed on the terrace.
Distance from Lucerne: 10 mins
24 | Taste Apple Juice at Ramseier Experience (Apple Juice Tasting)
Did you know that the average Swiss person eats 35lbs (16kg) of apples per year? Clearly, they love apples. And if you haven’t tried apfelschorle, then you should definitely sample it at Ramseier.
This adorable little museum walks you along the journey from apple trees to bottled apple juice. It’s interactive, colorful, has a great kids area, and of course an entire tasting section too. Not to mention the unique apple-themed products in their store, like apple mustard or apple sausage. And you can get a buy-one-get-one-free admission with the Swiss Coupon Pass.
Distance from Lucerne: 25 mins
25 | Taste the Cookies & Crackers at Kambly
Kambly is the most popular biscuit and cookie brand in the country. And you can sample nearly every kind in their free tasting room. And the mini museum teaches you about how the original recipe came to be and how the Kambly family has grown their brand over the last 4 generations.
You can come here by public transport or car from Bern or Lucerne — or even by their special Kambly train. We actually came here by ebike on an anniversary trip a few years ago. So if you’re into ebiking, the Emmental is a great place for that! And you can even snag buy-one-get-one-free cookies with the Swiss Coupon Pass.
Distance from Lucerne: 45 mins
26 | Visit an alpine Cheese Dairy
There are a handful of great cheese dairies in Central Switzerland, and most of them have a farm fridge where you can buy their local cheese. But a few of them also have bigger shops, tours, or even restaurants.
For example, Chäserenholz is just below Rigi Kulm. They serve amazing cheese platters, as well as Molke drinks made from whey.
And Untertrübsee is just a tiny farmer’s cable car ride below Trübsee (Engelberg-Titlis) or a funicular ride above Engelberg. And this place has great cheese and local ice cream — which Jana can’t resist!
Swiss History and Culture
27 | Visit the Swiss Museum of Transport (Transport Museum)
What’s more Swiss than a museum completely dedicated to transportation and engineering marvels? The Swiss Museum of Transport has multiple buildings and at least 8 different sections, each with a different focus, such as trains or airplanes. We honestly could have spent all day here playing with the interactive exhibits and exploring all of the themes. Jana remembers mock paragliding and Brett had fun flying a mini airplane!
The museum also offers the Swiss Chocolate Adventure, a planetarium, and a theater.
(Psst — get buy-one-get-one free admission to the Swiss Chocolate Adventure with the Swiss Coupon Pass)
Distance from Lucerne: 5 mins
28 | Visit Fortress Fürigen (Swiss Bunker)
This is one of my favorite pictures from our Swiss honeymoon because it brought out Brett’s inner child. We were at Fortress Fürigen, a decommissioned military bunker camouflaged in the mountains on Lake Lucerne. We’re always fascinated by WWII history, so if you have the chance to tour a defensive bunker like this with weapons and tunnels and giant doors, we highly recommend it!
Distance from Lucerne: 25 mins
29 | Visit the Hergiswil Glass Museum
You come to Switzerland for chocolate and cheese and mountains, but it’s also home to glass manufacturing at Glasi Hergiswil. Hang on, I know what you’re thinking: this isn’t how I wanna spend my Swiss vacation.
But the 25-minute mini tour about glass production in a small Swiss town leads to the workshop with fiery ovens and molten glass. There’s a waterfront cafe, a glass marble run, a glass sensory zone, and — the best part in our opinion — the glass maze! For real, we had way more fun than expected and spent all afternoon here. So this might be a great option for a rainy day in Central Switzerland!
Distance from Lucerne: 15 mins
30 | Visit Central Switzerland
At this point, you’ve heard about nearly 30 bucket list ideas for Lucerne and Central Switzerland. I mean, they’re all pretty awesome but how in the world can you craft them into a real itinerary? Well, you don’t have to. We’ve arranged the best-of-the-best into our Lucerne Travel Guides. So check those out, and read this post to choose the best Lucerne day trips based on your personality and preferences, and we’ll see you in Switzerland!
